Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Youth Work

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure youth work is considered in the same esteem as other key professions.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: DCMS supports the youth work workforce through funding the National Youth Agency to deliver its core functions: the maintenance of youth work qualifications, the development of a youth worker and youth services registry, and improved safeguarding and risk management across the sector. This funding ensures that youth workers will have access to high-quality training and support. It also underpins the delivery of the National Youth Guarantee, by helping to ensure that there is a sufficiently qualified and supported workforce.In addition, over the past three years we have funded the Agency to provide bursaries to help more than 2,000 youth workers access training and qualifications. In particular, the bursary programme supports people from lower socio-economic backgrounds and under-represented groups. In the most recent round of bursary funding, Level 4 certificate places were included for the first time, which will help to enhance the experience and training of existing youth workers and provide a clearer career and development pathway, supporting retention in the sector.

Social Mobility: Young People

Baroness Garden of Frognal: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support local authorities to fulfil their statutory duty to secure a ‘local youth offer’.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: As set out in section 507B of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people. This is funded from the local government settlement which has been increased to £64 billion next year, with a further £500 million dedicated to supporting children and adult social care in recognition of the pressures local authorities are facing.In September 2023, DCMS published updated statutory guidance to support local authorities’ understanding of the existing duty and how to deliver it. Alongside this, DCMS funds a peer review programme for local authorities to learn from each other about the best approaches to youth service provision. We received positive feedback from the areas that have already taken part and are supporting more areas this year.

Home Office

Clothing: Manufacturing Industries

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expectthe official evaluation of Operation Tacit to be published; and what steps they are planning in response.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Director of Labour Market Enforcement (DLME) has undertaken an independent review of Operation Tacit. The objectives of the upcoming report can be found here Review of Operation Tacit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). The DLME will publish her findings in due course. The Home Office will consider all recommendations and respond appropriately.

Drugs: Smuggling

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the production and distribution of illicit drugs from China, especially synthetic opioids such as nitazenes; and what estimate they have made of scale on which such drugs are smuggled into the UK.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: Tackling Class A drugs, including synthetic opioids, is a priority for the Government due to the harm caused to users, society and the economy.We assess that the scale of trafficking of synthetic opioids into the UK remains small, relative to countries like the USA where they have caused devastation. However, nitazenes, which the National Crime Agency (NCA) assess as often being produced in illicit labs in China, have been linked to more than 100 deaths in the UK during the last year, and we are taking action.The cross-Government Synthetic Opioids Taskforce is working with partner agencies, such as the NCA, the Department for Health and Social Care and the National Police Chiefs Council to deliver an evidence-based response to the risk posed by synthetic opioids, and to implement effective action to stem the demand and supply of these dangerous substances.

Home Office: Convictions

Lord Marlesford: To ask His Majesty's Government how many people employed by the Home Office have been convicted of abuse of public office and given custodial sentences in each of the past 20 years; and how many of those individuals have subsequently been re-employed in the Home Office or other departments or agencies in central government.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: In the last twenty years there have been 24 Home Office officials who have been convicted of Misconduct in Public Office. All received a custodial sentence, and all were convicted before 2015. Since then, the Crown Prosecution Service have moved towards using more specific charges such as theft, assisting unlawful immigration and bribery.A breakdown for each year is provided below:YearConvicted of abuse of positionCustodial sentence received200611200711200833200922201055201155201233201311201411201522 The Home Office conducts robust pre-appointment checks in accordance with the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standards prior to employment being offered. The Home Office also carries out National Security Vetting on all its employees, which considers both spent and unspent convictions for this and all other offences.

Fraud: Crime Prevention

Lord Garnier: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the guidance relating to failure to preventfraud offences, as required under section 204 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The government is currently working on the guidance for the new offence. We hope to publish it in early summer. The offence will then come into effect after an implementation period of 6 months is complete.The offence is similar to the existing offence of failure to prevent bribery and failure to prevent facilitation of tax evasion, both of which have had success in changing business culture.It will drive a culture change towards improved fraud prevention procedures in organisations and hold them to account if they profit from fraud by their employees, agents or other persons providing services on their behalf.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with EU institutions on the scope and timetable for the review of the UK–EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government regularly discusses implementation of the TCA with the EU through the framework of committees established by the agreement. The government has not discussed the scope or timetable for the review of the TCA with the EU.

UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will consult the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive before they begin the review of the UK–EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government regularly consults the Northern Ireland Executive on implementation of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. On 6 March, the Minister for Europe chaired the fifth meeting of the Interministerial Group on UK-EU Relations and the first since the restoration of the Stormont Executive. Discussions focused on UK government and devolved administrations' priorities ahead of the upcoming Partnership Council.

Iraq: Turkey

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Turkey, in relation to Turkish military attacks on Sinjar.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK recognises Turkey's right to self-defence, while fully supporting Iraq's territorial integrity. We encourage restraint from activity that could lead to loss of civilian life, or damage to civilian infrastructure. It is critical that Turkey and Iraq reach a way to address security concerns that does not lead to regional instability. We welcome recent high-level engagement between both countries, including President Erdoğan's visit to Iraq on 22 April. As a close NATO ally, we regularly engage Turkey on regional stability. Most recently, the UK National Security Advisor discussed this issue with his Turkish counterpart in London on 11 April.

Jerusalem: Cultural Heritage

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding the occupation by Israeli settlers of Cows Garden in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City in Jerusalem on 3 April.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not held discussions with Israeli counterparts on the situation in the Cow Garden site of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. The UK is monitoring the situation and is clear on the need to avoid any further rise in tensions. British Consulate General staff in Jerusalem met members of the community on 19 January, discussed the current situation and visited the Cow's Garden site. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states. The UK is a strong supporter of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and an advocate for the integrity of culturally important areas to be respected.

UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Windsor Framework

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the upcoming review of the UK–EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement will involve an appraisal of the outworking of the Windsor Framework, and possible amendments to the Framework.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Article 776 of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) requires the UK and EU to jointly review the implementation of the TCA and supplementing agreements and any matters related thereto five years after the entry into force and every five years thereafter. This article does not apply to the Windsor Framework which forms part of the Withdrawal Agreement - a separate international treaty.

Iraq: Politics and Government

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in Sinjar.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK regularly engages with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on the security situation in Sinjar, and we continue to advocate for the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement. Progress on this has been hindered by numerous factors, including tensions between the Government of Iraq and the KRG and the extremely complex politics of the region. ⁠We encourage both governments to agree a candidate to appoint as mayor of Sinjar, an important and necessary step to improve the security situation and lives of people living there.

Balkans: Security

Baroness Helic: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the security situation in and stability of the Western Balkans, following the testimony of the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, before the US House Committee on Armed Services on 10 April.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We share General Cavoli's assessment over rising tensions in the Western Balkans, and Russia's malign role in exacerbating those tensions. Working bilaterally and with partners, and drawing on over £40 million of programme activity, the UK is driving forward efforts to build resilience to external threats, strengthen democracy, prevent a return to conflict and tackle migration and serious organised crime. Government Ministers are engaging actively in support of these goals. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary met the Prime Ministers of Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro to discuss greater UK investment in the Western Balkans.

Pascal Suleiman

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Lebanese authorities regarding the abduction and death of Pascal Suleiman,a senior member of the Christian Lebanese Forces party, on 9 April.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to Lebanon's stability, security, and prosperity and as such we are in close contact with the Lebanese government. During Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon's most recent call with Foreign Minister Bou Habib on 18 April, he offered condolences for the tragic death of Pascal Sleiman. We are clear about the need for a thorough, transparent investigation so that those responsible can be brought to justice. In the wake of Mr Sleiman's death, we have been calling for calm and restraint, and urging Lebanon's political leaders to do likewise.

Economic Community of West African States

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they, together with international partners, have had any discussions with the government of Nigeria, and with the authorities in (1) Burkina Faso, (2) Niger, and (3) Mali, to persuade those three counties to re-join the Economic Community of West African States in the interests of the stability and security of West Africa.

Lord Benyon: The UK maintains regular dialogue on regional security with the Nigerian Government and the Transitional Authorities in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso. The Deputy Foreign Minister, spoke to ECOWAS Commission President Touray earlier this year after those three states announced their departure from the organisation. The Deputy National Security Adviser also visited Nigeria in February 2024 and discussed the future of the three states' participation in ECOWAS. The UK continues to encourage all actors to maintain regional engagement in the interest of working together to tackle the shared threat of terrorism and promote stability and prosperity for citizens in the region.

Sudan: Humanitarian Situation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the World Food Programme that the situation in Sudan is “catastrophic” and that it is currently only able to reach 10 per cent of the population; and what discussions they have had with those blocking access.

Lord Benyon: The UK strongly condemns the decision on 21 February by the Sudanese Armed Forces to withdraw permission for cross-border deliveries of humanitarian aid from Adré, Chad. The UK continues to press the warring parties to facilitate unhindered, crossline and cross-border humanitarian access across Sudan. In 2024/2025, UK ODA to Sudan will nearly double to £89 million. This includes funding to UNICEF, providing emergency, life-saving food assistance to support people particularly in hard-to reach areas; and the World Food Programme to assist over 285,000 beneficiaries for six months by providing 13,405 tons of food commodities including cereals, pulses, oils and salt. On 8 March, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted UK-drafted Resolution 2724 calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and unhindered humanitarian access.

Cabinet Office

Italy: G7

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government whatare their priorities for the G7 Summit which will be held in Borgo Egnazia from 13 to 15 June.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The G7 is a critical forum for the UK to engage like-minded partners on complex global challenges and for delivering on the interests of the British people on the global stage.At the 2024 G7 Leaders Summit, The Prime Minister will be focused on strengthening our collective security, including by maintaining unwavering G7 resolve to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal invasion, and aligning responses to ongoing geopolitical challenges, including in the Middle East. We will also look to work closely with the G7 to strengthen our economic security.The UK will also ensure that the G7 can play its part in ensuring an effective response to the defining global challenges, including migration, climate change, development and the risks posed by emerging critical technologies such as frontier Artificial Intelligence.

Government Departments: Conduct

Lord Marlesford: To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to ensure that individuals convicted of abuse of public office and given custodial sentences are not re-employed in central government departments or agencies of central government.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: All Civil Service recruitment is subject to the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. The Government Baseline Personnel Security Standard check is not a formal security clearance but is a recognised standard for pre-employment screening. These checks ensure departments comply with current legislation (e.g. Right to Work in the UK) and are essential to assure the integrity of our organisation and the safety of staff and individuals.Once a job offer is made a Basic Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is undertaken. The certificate will contain details of convictions and conditional cautions that are considered to be unspent under the terms of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.If the DBS check is returned with a positive marker (an unspent convention in a basic check, any conviction in a standard check), the vacancy holder/department undertakes a risk assessment to decide whether to make a final offer.

Integrated Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy Review

Baroness Goldie: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reassess the factors which informed the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published in March 2021, and the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, published in March 2023.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Cabinet Office continually assesses the factors that informed the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy 2021 and its Refresh in 2023. Through the National Security Secretariat and COBR structures, the government monitors and analyses the changing global security context, and reviews its strategic direction accordingly through the National Security Council. The government does not have any plans to publish a further Integrated Review at this stage.

Defence and Foreign Policy

Baroness Goldie: To ask His Majesty's Government whether it remains their position that foreign and defence policy are aligned, as stated in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, published in March 2021, and the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, published in March 2023.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Global Britain in a Competitive Age, The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (IR 2021), set the UK’s overarching national security, foreign, defence and other relevant policy. It was supported by a series of published sub-strategies, including the 2021 Defence Command Paper and the Defence and Security Industrial Strategy. The IR 2021 foreshadowed the global turbulence of the last two years. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - to whom the UK continues to provide a range of economic, humanitarian and defensive military assistance - to imposing additional sanctions on Russia and Belarus and conflict in the Middle East, the reality is that the world has become more dangerous, with far-reaching consequences for the security and prosperity of the British people. Integrated Review Refresh 2023 Responding to a More Contested and Volatile World (IRR 2023) set out how the UK will meet that challenge head-on. IRR 2023 concluded that the broad direction set by IR2021 - which includes the integration of foreign and defence policy - was right and that HMG has made significant progress in delivering against that direction. The Defence Command Paper 2023 provided details on how the UK would respond to the changing context and deliver on the Integrated Review Refresh within its resource envelope, increasing its productivity and focusing on areas that will achieve impact.

Department for Transport

Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the real-world representativeness of the CO2 emissions and fuel or energy consumption values ofnew passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles, as required by the Article 12(1) of EU Regulation 2019/631.

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of fuel and energy consumption data to ensure that CO2 emissions and fuel or energy consumption values remain representative of real-world emissions over time for manufacturers ofnew passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles, as required by EU Regulation 2019/631.

Baroness Randerson: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish their first annual report on how the real-world emissions gap will be addressed for the period 2021 to 2026, as required by EU Regulation 2019/631 on setting performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles.

Lord Davies of Gower: The Department is considering how to collect real-world CO2 emissions data, including consulting on whether such data should be captured through the MOT, and will continue to engage with interested parties as the methodology is finalised. The data collection methodology must be finalised before the first annual report can be produced.The Department will assess real-world representativeness of CO2 emissions and fuel or energy consumption values, once the methodology for collecting real-world data has been agreed with industry and subsequently introduced into law.The Department is considering how fuel and energy consumption data could inform amendments to type approval testing procedures and certificates for petrol and diesel cars and light commercial vehicles. Specifically on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the Department intends to update the calculation procedure for their carbon dioxide emissions to respond to the widely recognised gap in their real-world emissions performance compared to official approval values. This will be consulted on in due course.

Bus Services: Fares

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to retain a cap on bus fares after November 2024.

Lord Davies of Gower: The £2 fare cap is set to run until the end of this year, with the Government having provided almost £600 million to deliver the scheme. The Government will continue to provide funding to support the sector through our regular funding streams. This includes making over £200 million available annually to bus operators through the Bus Service Operator’s Grant to help them maintain an extensive network and keep fares down, and over £2 billion for local areas to deliver their Bus Service Improvement Plans which can support local fares initiatives.

Cycling: Accidents

Lord Hogan-Howe: To ask His Majesty's Government whatinformation (1) the Home Office, and (2) other departments, have regarding the numberof casualties caused by pedal cyclists and e-bikes to pedestrians in the past 20 years.

Lord Davies of Gower: The Department for Transport publishes road casualty statistics based on personal injury road collisions reported to the police via the STATS19 reporting system. Electrically assisted pedal cycles are included in the pedal cycle category depending on their power output. The table below shows the annual number of pedestrian casualties where they were in collision with a pedal cycle from 2003 to 2022 (the latest year that data is available for). There may also be other vehicles involved in the overall collision. YearCasualties in collisions with pedal cycles20032592004236200527920062262007229200826120092922010341201140620124322013466201449820154442016460201753120184822019408202030820214372022462

Department for Business and Trade

Iron and Steel: Port Talbot

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government what plansthey have to provide employment opportunities for the people of Port Talbot following on from proposed changes to the Steel Works.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The Government is providing a grant worth up to £500 million, as part of a wider £1.25 billion investment by Tata Steel. This will not only modernise Port Talbot but protect many jobs at the steelworks for the long term. We are working with Tata Steel to provide up to £100 million of funding towards the dedicated Transition Board, with membership including representatives of the Welsh Government, to support affected employees and the local economy. Tata has also announced that they will provide a £130 million comprehensive support package for affected employees.

Business: Economic Situation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Quarterly Economic Survey by the British Chambers of Commerce, published on 11 April; and what steps they are taking to address and mitigate the challenges in relation to wages, bills and other expenses faced by businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The Department continuously monitors and works to improve our offer to help businesses access the finance and support they need. Government works with the British Business Bank to help SMEs access finance. The Recovery Loan scheme, renamed the ‘Growth Guarantee Scheme’, was extended, which offers a 70% government guarantee on loans to SMEs. The VAT registration threshold was also raised, keeping more SMEs out of VAT. Additional support also includes raising the Employment Allowance to £5,000, and a business rates package to support small businesses, worth £4.3 billion.

Cotton: Imports

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the volume of cotton garments imported into the UK that are linked to environmental destruction in the Amazonian Cerrado.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: In 2023, only 0.01% of UK imports of clothing, at least some of which are made from cotton, came from Brazil.The Government is concerned about environmental destruction in the Amazon, and the Government monitors trends of forest loss across the region, including Brazil. In May 2023, the Government published a joint declaration with Brazil on Green and Inclusive Growth. The Partnership will drive strengthened cooperation and dialogue, including on forests and agriculture.

Brexit: Economic Situation

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Johnson of Lainston on 16 April (HL3357),how they reconcile the data mentioned in the Answer with theindependent analysis from Goldman Sachs which concluded that the UK's economy is 5 per cent smaller than it would have been if the UK had remained in the EU.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: Since the referendum, the UK has grown faster than Germany, Italy, and Japan (Q2 2016 – Q4 2023). The International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that between 2024-2029 the UK will see the third fastest growth in the G7. The UK’s relative productivity performance versus the G7 has remained around the average for the rest of the G7, from 2010 to 2022; ahead of Canada, Italy and Japan.The Department for Business and Trade is focussed on delivering the opportunities through: new trade deals, removing market access barriers, and maximising regulatory freedoms to strengthen the UK economy.

Iron and Steel: Port Talbot

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government what was the quantity of coal required to run Port Talbot steel works at full scale operations; and what is the equivalent in electricity usage.

Lord Offord of Garvel: The quantities of coal and equivalent electricity usage at Port Talbot steelworks is commercially sensitive information held by Tata Steel UK. However, HMG understands that coal is used throughout Port Talbot steelworks in various functions to feed the blast furnaces, via the Morfa Coke Ovens (which as announced on 20 March by Tata Steel, are being closed) and Injection Plant. Coal is an emission dense power source, and the implementation of an electric arc furnace will reduce UK territorial emissions by 1.4%.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Hares: Animal Welfare

Baroness Helic: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for introducing legislation to introduce a closed season for hares in England, following the publication of DEFRA’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021; and what consultations they have had with stakeholders in that regard.

Lord Benyon: The Government has no current plans to legislate to introduce a close season for hares in England. The Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021 made a commitment to consider such legislation and it remains an option. An industry-led, non-statutory code of practice to protect hares in England is already in place which states that lethal control to prevent damage to crops should only be carried out in the winter months of January and February when vegetation is low and hares are easily visible. These months avoid the main breeding season and thereby reduce risks to dependent young.The Government has had no formal consultations with stakeholders on this issue since the publication of the Action Plan for Animal Welfare but we have heard representations from interested parties, both in support of and opposed to a close season for hares.

Non-native Species

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are monitoring the spread of non-native flatworms in the UK, particularly the New Zealand flatworm; what assessment they have made of any recent increases in the numbers of non-native flatworms in the UK; and what steps they are taking (1) to combat the spread of non-native flatworms, and (2) to advise the public.

Lord Benyon: No recent assessment has been made of the numbers of non-native flatworms in the UK. While some data on New Zealand flatworms (Arthurdendyus triangulates) is collected this is not sufficiently systematic to support a full assessment. We encourage the public to submit sightings with photographs to iRecord (which can be found at irecord.org.uk) such that the species can be accurately identified. The record is then uploaded to the biological records centre and will improve our understanding of the distribution of the species. We have developed a Horticulture Pathway Action Plan (PAP) (copy attached) which aims to prevent and manage the risk posed by species such as the New Zealand flatworm using measures such as raising public awareness, minimizing the contamination of goods, commodities, vehicles and equipment by invasive non-native species, and ensuring appropriate border checks. An action within this document specific to flatworms is to establish a task-and-finish group to review existing guidance and develop new guidance on flatworms. We are due to consult on the PAPs later this year, and following the conclusion of that exercise, the actions such as this one in the PAPs will commence. In addition, Invasive Species Week is coming up and will take place from the 20th to 26th May 2024. This is an annual week of awareness raising and events to help prevent the spread, and reduce the harmful impacts, of invasive non-native plants and animals.Horticulture Pathway Action Plan (pdf, 210.3KB)

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Tenants: Community Development

Baroness Fox of Buckley: To ask His Majesty's Government, following recent polling by the Belonging Forum which found that renters are more likely than the general population to (1) feel lonely, (2) not know their neighbours, and (3) feel unsafe walking home in the dark, whether they are developing any policies to promote greater integration of renters in their local communities.

Baroness Swinburne: The Government’s Levelling Up White Paper sets out the Government’s missions to end economic equality and level up the UK. As part of our mission to restore a sense of local community, pride and belonging, our ambition is for the number of non-decent rented homes to have fallen by 50% by 2030, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas. We will require privately rented homes to meet the Decent Homes Standard for the first time. This will give renters safer, better value homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities. Through the Renters (Reform) Bill, which is currently progressing through parliament, we will deliver the manifesto commitment to abolish section 21 evictions. This will give tenants the confidence that they can remain in their home and are able to put down roots in their communities. In addition, we have invested over £150 million since 2020 for over 400 projects through the Safer Streets fund. This has gone towards local crime prevention measures such as better CCTV and streetlighting, or local community projects, with a particular focus on driving down anti-social behaviour, preventing neighbourhood crimes such as domestic burglary and making streets safer for women and girls.

Rents: Increases

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of figures released by the Office for National Statistics showing an average increase of 9.2 per cent in monthly rental costs in the UK in the 12 months to March; and what steps they are taking to mitigate any negative effects on (1) landlords, and (2) tenants.

Baroness Swinburne: The Government recognises the cost-of-living pressures that tenants are facing, and that paying rent is likely to be a tenant’s biggest monthly expense. To help households with these cost-of-living pressures the government will provide support worth a total of £108 billion between 2022 and 2025– an average of £3,800 per UK household. Individuals who need help to make their rent payments may be eligible for a range of financial support through the welfare system. The Government is investing £1.2 billion restoring Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment will mean 1.6 million low-income households will gain, on average, nearly £800 per year in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25. For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need more support, Discretionary Housing Payments and Household Support Fund grants are also available from local authorities. Housebuilding is a priority for this Government to help create a more sustainable and affordable housing market over the long term. The pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the government does not intervene. Ultimately, the path to lower interest rates is though low inflation, which is why the Government is fully committed to supporting the Bank of England to get inflation back down to the 2% target, and our plan is working.

Ministry of Defence

Iran: Israel

Baroness Goldie: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total cost to all parties of intercepting Iranian drones launched against Israel on 13 April; and what proportion of that cost was borne by the UK.

The Earl of Minto: The Net Additional Costs of Military Operations will be identified and reported in the Annual Report and Accounts in due course.

Iran: Israel

Baroness Goldie: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the recent participation of the RAF in intercepting Iranian drones aimed at Israel required UK military assets to be withdrawn from any other exercise or deployment.

The Earl of Minto: We already have a significant presence in the region, but as a prudent measure a number of aircraft were temporarily moved from our NATO operations in Romania to bolster our existing presence. We coordinated with NATO and our Allies to ensure there was no impact to existing operations.

Iran: Israel

Baroness Goldie: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the recent interception of Iranian drones by the RAF was part of Operation Shader; if so, whether the remit of Operation Shader has been expanded; and if so, in what way.

The Earl of Minto: The deployment of additional RAF aircraft to the region was authorised to intercept any attacks within range of existing missions. The remit of Op SHADER has not changed, it remains focused solely on countering Daesh.

Treasury

Goldman Sachs

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have assessed the consequences for the UK economy of Goldman Sachs moving its head of financial institutions for Europe, the Middle East and Africa from London to Paris.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Financial and related professional services employ more than 2 million people in the UK and the Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains the location of choice for leading talent from across the world. This is part of the Government’s mission to ensure the UK retains its position as one of the most innovative and competitive financial centres in the world. Most recently, at Spring Budget 2024, the Chancellor updated on the ambitious package of reforms which will help to deliver the Government’s vision for a financial sector that is open, sustainable, technologically innovative, and globally competitive.

Inflation

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the impact of rising inflation on household budgets while stimulating consumer spending, given the stagnation of retail sales between February and March.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The government is fully committed to supporting the Bank get inflation back down to the 2% target, including by keeping borrowing under control. Inflation has also come down significantly, to less than half its 2022 peak. Over the past two years, the government has provided support to help households with the cost of living totalling £96 billion – an average of £3400 per UK household. Further support announced by the government for 2024-25 includes extending the Household Support Fund, cutting National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and raising the National Living Wage (NLW).  ONS retail sales growth was flat in March, following growth of 0.1% in February. However, due to a significant rebound in January, retail sales increased by 1.9% on the quarter. This represents the strongest quarterly growth since Q2 2021.

Financial Services: Foreign Investment in UK

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the delay of the Overseas Funds Regime on the UK'sattractiveness to overseas asset managers; and what steps they are taking to mitigate any negative effects.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The UK’s world-leading asset management sector is the second largest by assets under management, 48% of which are managed on behalf of overseas investors. The Overseas Funds Regime was legislated for in the Financial Services Act 2021, to create a more streamlined process for overseas investment funds to be sold to UK investors. On 30th January, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury announced that the Government had found the states in the European Economic Area, including the EU member states, equivalent under the Overseas Funds Regime, in respect of certain retail funds. This followed a detailed assessment of the states’ regulatory regimes. HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) jointly published a roadmap to equivalence on the 1st of May setting out the key milestones to implement this decision. Alongside this, the FCA published detailed guidance setting out that funds in scope of the OFR – but without temporary marketing access – will be able to apply to the FCA for recognition from September 2024. The FCA intends to invite funds with temporary marketing access to apply for recognition in tranches between October 2024 and September 2026.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Lord Jackson of Peterborough: To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have with the Competition and Markets Authority on the recent increases in car insurance premiums and access to car insurance for motorists on lower incomes.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors, including the financial services regulators, on an ongoing basis.The Government does not prescribe the terms, conditions or price that insurance companies set when offering insurance. Insurers make commercial decisions about the pricing of insurance following their assessment of the relevant risks. The Government does not intervene in these decisions as this could damage competition in the market. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the independent regulator responsible for supervising the insurance industry. Alongside the Competition and Markets Authority, the FCA can enforce against breaches of competition law for the provision of financial services. The FCA also requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. if the price a consumer pays for a product or service is reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA has been clear that it will be monitoring firms to ensure they are providing products that are fair value, and, where necessary, it will take action.